The M-Audio Hammer 88 is a premium keyboard controller ideal for students, semi-pro, and professional players alike, seeking realistic grand piano feel to use with virtual instruments and sound modules. This guide walks through how to register, download, install, and authorize the included Ableton Live Lite and AIR Music Instruments.

Registering your product

Scroll to the top of the page, click Account, and select Sign In if you already have an existing M-Audio account, or Create New Account to create your account.

After your account has been accessed, you will be presented with a page that says My Order History, Register Product, Edit Profile and Change Password. Click Register Product.Next, you will be presented with a screen to enter your information and register your controller. Please select the Hammer 88 from the drop-down menu and enter the serial number exactly as it appears on the bottom of your controller.

Important: Please include the "(21)" and capitalize all letters when entering the serial number.

Include your purchase date and then click Register Product to complete the registration.

Downloading, Installing, and Authorizing Ableton Live Lite 9

This video guide discusses how to download, install and authorize your copy of Ableton Live Lite.

Downloading and installing AIR Music Instruments

The M-Audio Hammer 88 includes downloads for AIR Music Instruments Mini Grand, DB-33, and Eight Eight Ensemble VST plugins. These will be available for download on your user account page once the Hammer 88 has been registered. In this example, we'll use the Mini Grand plugin to show you how you can download, install and authorize your included plugins. Repeat these steps for DB-33 and Eighty-Eight Ensemble.

Windows Install

After the download is complete, we will need to extract the files before installation. To do this, right-click on the "Mini Grand_1.2.7_Setup.zip" file. After doing this, select "Extract files..." to extract the files. Make sure you remember this location so we can retrieve it afterward.

After the files are extracted, open the "Mini Grand_1.2.7_Setup"folder, and select the "Mini Grand_1.2.7_Setup.exe" application to run install setup.

Follow all of the prompts to proceed with the installation.

Pay attention to the location where the 32 and 64 bit Mini Grand is being installed. You will need to know this later on in order to scan the plugins into Ableton Live Lite 9. By default, these will install to:

Note:It is common practice to put all of your plugins into a single folder in order to keep track of your plugin library, so you may want to consider changing the install location of one or both of the plugins to a single location. It is ok to install both 32 and 64-bit versions to the same folder, but be aware that your DAW will only be able to recognize one and may fail the other.

Run the "Mini_Grand_1.2.7_Setup" and follow the on-screen prompts to install.

Once the install is finished, click Close. Repeat steps for DB-33 and Eighty-Eight Ensemble.

Repeat this process for DB-33 and Eighty-Eight Ensemble.

Authorizing AIR Music Instruments with iLok License Manager

While all of your plugins can be activated through their designated authorizer applications, it's more efficient to just enter your authorization code directly into the iLok License Manager.

Find and open the iLok License Manager from your Programs or Applications folder.

Click on Sign-In in the top left corner. If you have used iLok before with other products and have an account, sign-in to your account. If you have never seen or used iLok before, click on Create New Account in the Sign In window and follow the prompts to create an account.

Please note: We recommend using an iLok account. Signing in is not always necessary to utilize an iLok license, but having and using an account to keep track of your licenses is free and provides additional features and options for managing and moving your licenses when necessary.

Once you are logged in, click on Licenses at the top of the window and choose Redeem Activation Code.

A window will appear with space for you to enter an authorization code.

Find the Authorization Code for your plugin. Since the plugin was included with the purchase of a product, such as MIDI keyboard, your authorization code will be located on your user account page after registering your product.

Copy and paste this code into the first box on the left and the code will fill out the remaining fields. When you're ready, click Next.

You will be prompted to choose a location for your license. You are free to choose an iLok dongle if you have one, but for most users, just choose your computer (this will be the option with the computer icon on the left) and click Activate.

Finally, iLok will notify you when the activation is complete! Repeat steps 3 - 8 to authorize any additional plugins

Further Technical Support

Whether you are a customer or dealer, if you already own an M-Audio product, or if you just have pre-sales questions, the M-Audio technical support team is available to help!

Visit the link below to connect with any of the following support options: online community support, phone support, email support.